Bud’s Rules and Things
Bud’s Rule Number 3 states, "If you got to tell a lie, make sure it’s" this kind of lie.
What is ... a convincing lie?
These items, showing a woman on a horse, are what Bud uses to try to track down his father.
What are ... blue flyers (concert posters)?
Most of the story takes place in these two Michigan cities.
What are ... Flint and Grand Rapids?
This is the name of the band's lead singer, who acts as a mother figure to Bud.
Who is ... Miss Thomas?
Herman E. Calloway plays this oversized string instrument.
What is ... the double bass (or fiddle)?
According to Bud, when one of these "closes," another one "opens."
What is ... a door?
Bud carries this many rocks in his suitcase.
What is ... five?
The girl to whom Bud gives his first kiss.
Who is ...Deza Malone?
Bud is given this nickname after the band realizes how hard it is to wake him up.
What is ... Sleepy LaBone?
Instead of being Bud’s father, Herman E. Calloway turns out to be this relative.
Who is ... his grandfather?
Bud’s Rule Number 290 warns that when these "start to roar," you should be careful because they are "the most dangerous things in the world."
What are ... ideas?
This character is the woman depicted in the flyers and the person Bud misses most.
Who is ... Angela Janet Caldwell (Bud’s mother)?
This was the name given to the cardboard shacks people lived in because they felt the President wasn't helping them.
What are ... Hoovervilles?
This instrument is the first one the band gives to Bud to practice on.
What is ... “baby saxophone"?
Herman kept the rocks because they were a gift he had been collecting for this person.
Who is ... his daughter (Bud’s mom)?
Explain the irony behind Bud’s rule regarding adults: He often says they are "always" doing this, yet he relies on them throughout his journey.
What is ... lying?
These two pieces of clothing in the suitcase are the only things Bud has left of his mother’s childhood.
What are ... a dirty blanket and an old jacket?
While riding with Lefty Lewis, Bud is terrified to find these in a cooler in the back seat, which Lefty is to deliver
What are ... crates of blood?
Steady Eddie gives Bud this specific item so he can "look" like a real musician.
What is an ... old saxophone case?
At the end of the book, Bud finally feels at home when he moves into this specific room in Herman’s house.
What is ... his mother’s old bedroom?
Analyze the purpose of Bud's Rules. They aren't just for fun; they are a psychological tool Bud uses to accomplish this primary goal.
What is ... protecting himself (or maintaining a sense of control/order)?
The mystery of the rocks is solved when Bud realizes the dates and locations on them correspond to this specific life event for Herman E. Calloway.
What are ... the nights his band played (or tours)?
The "Mission" where Bud goes to eat has a sign that says "There’s no place like home," which is ironic because of this specific Great Depression reality.
What is ... mass homelessness (or the fact that the people in line have no homes)?
The name of the only bandmember that was white in Herman E. Calloway’s band, which made it possible for them to play at white-only venues.
Who was ... Dirty Deed?
Compare the two characters: In what way is Bud’s personality actually very similar to Herman E. Calloway’s?
What is...both are stubborn, defensive, and carry "baggage" (literally and figuratively) from their past.